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“The regulatory clarification we begin today will help us to continue to protect the American people by carrying out the laws duly enacted by our representatives in Congress," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. | Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo

DOJ reviewing whether gun bump stocks should be banned

Federal authorities announced Tuesday they are reviewing whether bump stocks, the gun accessory used in a Las Vegas shooting in October that killed 58 concert-goers, should be prohibited.

The Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said the process will seek to determine whether existing regulations outlawing the possession of machine guns can be applied to the accessory, which lets semi-automatic weapons fire more rapidly.

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“The regulatory clarification we begin today will help us to continue to protect the American people by carrying out the laws duly enacted by our representatives in Congress," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.

Bump stocks came under heavy scrutiny after shooter Stephen Paddock used the accessory to unleash a deadly and rapid barrage of fire onto a crowd of people attending a country music festival in Las Vegas.

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In the aftermath of the shooting, Democratic officials urged Congress to pass legislation to ban bump stocks, but initiatives so far have failed to muster enough support.

The National Rifle Association came out against passing additional measures to limit firearms but endorsed using existing statutes to limit the use of the bump stocks accessory.

Possession and transfer of machine guns have been regulated under the Gun Control Act since 1968 and the National Firearms Act since 1934.